Category Archives: Transhuman News

DNA testing first helped release a man from jail on a rape charge in East St. Louis. Now, investigators are using DNA testing to put another man behind bars for the crime.

Dominic R. Hood, 18, of East St. Louis, has been charged with six counts of criminal sexual assault, one count of attempted aggravated criminal assault and one count of aggravated armed robbery, the St. Clair County state's attorney's office reported.

Hood is being held at the St. Clair County Jail on $1 million bond. Authorities say DNA information already in a database links Hood to the Jan. 29 rape.

The victim, a woman in her early 30s, was walking home from the Emerson Park MetroLink stop near Bowman Avenue and North 14th Street when she was approached by a gun-wielding man who demanded her valuables and then raped her.

Originally, Marlon M. Miller, 20, of East St. Louis, was arrested and held in connection with the crime. He was released after DNA tests cleared him.

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Teen charged in East St. Louis rape after DNA cleared previous suspect

Public release date: 18-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Emmanouil Dermitzakis emmanouil.dermitzakis@unige.ch 41-223-795-483 Universit de Genve

Methylation refers to a chemical modification of DNA and this modification can occur in millions of positions in the DNA sequence. Until now, scientists believed that this epigenetic phenomenon actively reduced the expression of certain genes. Today, a team of researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, led by Emmanouil Dermitzakis, Louis-Jeantet Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, reveals that this is not always the case and that DNA methylation may play both a passive and active role in gene regulation. The mechanistic relationships between DNA sequence variability and gene expres- sion therefore prove to be more complex and variable than originally assumed. This discovery, published in the journal eLife, highlights the potential risks associated with over-interpreting a correlation rather than a causal link between two variables, especially when it comes to assessing disease predisposition.

The genome contains many genetic variations responsible for the diversity of living beings and their predisposition to developing certain diseases. Because of these variations, genes may be expressed differently from one individual to another. The same gene may likewise be expressed differently in different cells of a single person. These differences among individuals or cells may be mediated by genetic and/or epigenetic effects. Epigenetics is the chemical modification of DNA and its associated proteins, which may serve as a way for our cells to remember past exposures to environmental challenges or mediate genetic effects. It, therefore, offers a new way to study the role of the environment on the expression of our genes.

Causality vs. correlation

One epigenetic phenomenon, which the team from UNIGE has investigated, is DNA methylation. Until now, scientists believed that DNA methylation actively reduced the expression of certain genes. After having conducted a large-scale study performed on cells from the umbilical cords of 204 newborns, the researchers from UNIGE demonstrate that DNA methylation may play both a passive and active role in gene regulation. Indeed, in some cases, contrary to what was expected, DNA methylation has no impact on gene expression. The mechanistic relationships between DNA variability and gene expression prove to be more complex and variable than previously assumed. It was therefore essential to determine whether a causal link exists between methylation and gene expression, rather than relying on a simple correlation.

The results of this study shed light on the great complexity of factors that contribute to the physiological differences between people and allow us to better understand how genetic diseases develop, explains Maria Gutierrez-Arcelus, first author of this article and member of the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research Frontiers in Genetics.

This study highlights the prime importance of determining the causal relationship between biological variables in order to be able to draw reliable conclusions. Correlations are useful when we want to make the assessment of the status of a patient. But it is only with causal relationships that we can make decisions on the relevant medical inter- ventions and expect a predictable and reliable outcome. "Correlation simply allows you to state the facts about someone's health. Causali- ty is the way to actually intervene. It is the difference between stating that a door is locked and having the key to open it", says Emmanouil Dermitzakis, professor at the University of Geneva Medical School.

The researchers predict that the approach described in their study will pave the way to further develop the modelling of biomedical parameters and large-scale datasets in order to improve biological knowledge and patient outcome.

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The secret of DNA methylation

DUBLIN, June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5g3rx5/dna_sequencing) has announced the addition of the report "DNA Sequencing - Technologies, Markets and Companies" to their offering.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130307/600769 )

This report briefly reviews basics of human genome variations, development of sequencing technologies, and their applications. Current large and small sequencers are described as well as companies developing them. Various applications of sequencing are described including those for genetics, medical diagnostics, drug discovery and cancer. Next generation sequencing technologies, both second and third generations, are reviewed. Companies developing software for analysis of sequencing data are also included. Selected academic institutes conducting research in sequencing are also listed.

The current market is mostly for research applications and future markets will be other applications related to healthcare. The value of the DNA sequencer market in 2012 is described with estimates for 2017 and 2022. Various methods and factors on which market estimates depend are described briefly. Markets are tabulated according to geographical areas as well as applications. Small sequencers form the basis of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. Several marketing strategies have been outlined.

The report includes profiles of 108 companies involved in sequencing and their 106 collaborations. The report text is supplemented by 36 tables, 12 figures and 320 selected references to the literature.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

1. Introduction 2. DNA Sequencing Technologies 3. Comparative Analysis of Sequencing Technologies 4. Sequencing for Research 5. Applications of Sequencing in Healthcare 6. Markets for Sequencers 7. Companies Involved in Sequencing 8. References

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5g3rx5/dna_sequencing

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DNA Sequencing: Technologies, Markets and Companies - 2013 Report